Control mechanism



K 1,600,505 D. H. HUNTER CONTROL MECHANISM Sept. 21

2 Sheets-Shoot l1 F 1 oct, 1 1921 Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

UNITED YSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID H. HUNTER, 07F DALLAS, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR T0 SULLIVAN MACHINERY COM- PANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS. v

CONTROL MECHANISM.

Appiication aie-a october 1, i921.` serial No. 504,801.

My invention relates to control mechanisms and more particularly to control mechanisms for providing timed operation o1' pumping mechanism controlled thereby.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved controlling mechanism. Another object of my invention is to provide improved control mechanism for providing' adjustable timing of the mechanism controlled thereby. A further object of my invention is to provide improved control mechanism controlling the supply and interruption of flow of power medium to a pumping mechanism controlled thereby. Another object o1 my invention is to provide an improved control mechanism adapted automatically and continuously to control the roperation of pumping mechanism controlled thereby. Further objects of my invention will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown for purposes of illustration one form which my invention may Yassume in practice.

In these drawings,-

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the illustrative form of my improved control or timing mechanism employedv in connection with a displacement pumping system.

Fig. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of my improved control mechanism.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged elevation of my iinproved coiitrol mechanism per se showing the parts in the saine relative position as shown .in Fig. 1. 4

Fig. 4 is an elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3, the mechanism being viewed as it turned through 90 about avertical axis.

Fig. 5 corresponding to the section line Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through the power cylinder of my control is a section on an enlarged scale 5-5 of mechanism,pthe view being taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4. Y

Fig. 7 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line 7-7 of. Fig. 4, showing details of construction of the timing element perse forming a portion of my timing or control mechanism. i p v For purposes of illustration have shown my improved timing mechanism arranged for use in connection with a displacement pumping system of a Well known form. In

this system a compressor 1 supplies pressure fluid to a receiver 2 fromwhich by way of apipe 3 the fluid is adapted to be led to my improved control mechanism which is generally designate-d 4. Under the control of this mechanism the lluid is distributed byy check valves 12 and 13 to a discharge line 14.

By means of a valve mechanism best shown in Fig. 5, pressure fluid supplied from line 8 is conducted to a valve casingv 16 cooperating with and forming a part of my improved timing mechanism. indicated, the casing 16 communicates by pipes 5. and 6 (see Fig. 1) with the displace- As previously ment tanks 7 and 8. In alinement with the y supply pipe 3 is larranged an exhaust pipe 17. lVithinthe housing 16 is arranged a bore whichniay be conical or cylindrical as prefererd, this bore being designated 18 and communicating by passages 19 and 2O respectively with fluid pressure supply line 3 and the vent line 17. The bore 18 also cominunicates by passages 21 and 22, which are disposed both to one side of the plane including the axis of the valve and perpendicular to a line drawn between the inlet and discharge openings19 and 20,witli the lines v5 and 6 respectively. Attention is directed at this time to the fact that the passage 19 is of smaller flow area than the passages 21 and 22. `The purpose of this will be shortly explained.

Rotatably mounted within the bore 18 is a valve member 23 which is shaped to accurately fit said bore and which is cut away on opposite sides to provide flow passages 24 and Y25 adapted in opposite positions of the f valve to connect the ports21 and 22 alter- Y nately with the ports 19 and 20. As shown in Fig. r5, it will be apparent that as the valve moves from a position in which either of the por-ts 21 or 22 is connected with the being noted that at the same time the pas-- sage 19 also communicates with said passage. However, by reason of the fact that the flow area of the ports 21 and 22 and passage 24 is greater than that of the port 19, there will be a considerable transfe-r of fluid from the port 22 to the port 21 or vice versa and so a saving in the quantity of fluid which must flow from the port 19 in filling up the volume above the liquid level in the'tank about to be discharged.

It will be noted that the valve 23 is herein provided with a square shank 26 (see Fig. upon which is secured an operating lever 27, although it will be obvious that the valve may be operatedby any other kind of oper-ating member. yPivotally connected to vone end of the lever kor arm 27 is a. rod 2S extending in a' substantially verticalv direction and having-secured thereon adjustable lock nuts 29 and 30 kadapted to serve as abutments or collars for the rod 23 and to be engaged by means hereinafter described.

F or the purpose of controlling movements ofthe rod 28, I have provided improved actuating and timing mechanism comprising together with structure later described a cylinder 31 in which a piston 32 is vertically reciprocable, said piston 'being adapted to raise a weight 33 upon upward movement thereof and to have its downward movement assisted by said weight. vBetween the top of said piston 32 and said weight 33 there is fixed a cross head 34 which is generally L- shaped in outline, (see Fig. 2) this crosshead being secured to the piston by means of a nut 35 threaded upon a stud not shown, upon whose upper end the weight 33 is likewise threaded.

Arranged parallel to the cylinder 31 is a dash-pot cylinder 36 in which a dash-pot piston 37 is reciprocable. The dash-pot piston 37 has a piston rod 38'which is secured by nuts 39 to the junction of the arms of the L-shaped crosshead 34. It will be noted that the piston 32 is secured to said l.- shaped cross head at a point about midway of the lengt-h of the larger arm ofy the latter. The dash-pot cylinder 35 is provided in a lateral wall thereof with a longitudinally extending passage 41 communicating with the bore of the cylinder by four o'g )enings arranged respectively; one relatively near the top of the cylinderI and designated 42, one practically at the bottom, designated and a pair about mid-way between the ports 42 and 43 and separated by -a space in the illustrative form shown somewhat llonger than the thickness of the piston 37, these last holes being designated 44 and 45 of which the'port 45 is the lower. Intermediate between the ports 44 and 45 is a screw 46 which is adapted to be more or less projected into the passage 41 and so -to limit the rate of flow through that portion of the passage in which the screw is disposed. "[t will be evident that the dash-pot is filled with liquid to a point above the upper port 42.

From the construction described, it will be evident that the piston 37 may be moved quite freely upward until the port 45 is closed, the liquid, herein oil, simply bypassing through the port 45, passage 41 and port 43. After closure of the port 45 all liquid passing from the upper to the lower side of the piston 37 must pass by the screw 46 and accordingly there is a considerable retardation which may be varied b vadjustment of the screw 46. lhen the piston has passed above the port 44, its movement may again take place quite freely as then liquid passing through the port 42 and down passage' 41 may flow in .behind the piston through the port 44. It willy thus be seen that the piston may move quite rapidly adjacent the lopposite ends of its travel, but for a space near the middle .of its travel it is compelled to move quite slowly. During downward movement of the piston it `can move rapidly until it reaches the port- 44, must move slowly until the port 45 is opened by the upper surface of the pist-on, and thereafter. may move rapidly until it reaches substantially the bottom of its cylinder.

As stated above, the upper end 0f the piston rod 3S is rigidly connected to the L- sha-pecl crosshead at the angle of the latter and so the piston 37 must move as the piston 32 moves, and the rate of movement of the piston 32 is limited by the rate of possible movement of the piston 37. It should next be noted that a valve ofthe ordinary threeway type is arranged in a fluid pressure supply pipe. 47 leading to av port 43 in the bottom ofthe cylinder 31, .thisvalve being adapted in opposite .positions to supply air beneath the piston 32, and, having cut oill said air supply, to vent the bottom of the cylinder 31. As this valve is of the ordinary three-way type no specific illustration is believed requisite. The valve is provided with an operating arm or lever 49 to one end of weich is connected a spring 50, the latter at its other end being connected toa vertically reciprocable rod 5l. The rod 51 is reciprocable in guides 52 secured to the side. of the dash-pot cylinder and these guides likewise serve as stops to be engaged by the other end of t-he lever 49, to determine the stationary positions of the valve. :lt will vbe clearly evident that as therod 51 is raised the free end of the spring 50 will be moved upward until the tension is along a line making an angle with the longitudinal axis of the member 49 and lyingl above the latter. [is a result the valve Awill be .sharply 4thrown to an opposite position from that shown in Fig. 4, i. e. so that the air is' cut off from the port 43and the latter is connected with exhaust. The movements of the feo rod 51 are determined by the engagement with adjustable collars or abutments 5 4 and thereon by one branch, herein the shorter one, of the angular or L-shaped crosshead 34, it being evident from an inspectionof Fig. 4 that the crosshead may move upward a considerable distance before beginning to move the valve 32 previously described, and causing the latter -to be thrown onlyadjacent the upper end of its stroke. `The veX- tremity ofthe other arm of the L-shaped crosshead is perforated and through it eX- tends the rod 28. As al result the valve 23 will be moved to its opposite positions by movements of the crossliead 34. By reason of the relatively rapid movement of the piston32 as controlled bythe dash-pot adjacent the ends of its travel, it will be evident that the valve 23 will be thrown quite rapidly, while beiner held stationary for a consicerable perioc during the travel of the piston 32 along the middle portions of its pei-1li. f

The mode of operation f this mechanism, itis believed, will already be very clear', but it may be more fully described as follows: Assume that there is air or other fluid under pressure in the pipes 47 and 3, and that the three-way valve is in a position corresponding to the illustration of the arm 49 in Fig'.

l4. Pressure will be supplied to the port 48 beneath the piston B2 and cause the latter to .'noveiipwarclly raising the weight 33 with it. The piston will move quiterapidl i for a short period 'and thenas the da's'ho piston closes port 45, will be retarde Vfor' a space of time sufficient to permit the tank which is discharging to `discharge and the tank which is filling to fill. After the port" 44 is luncovered by the lower edge of the piston 37, the movement of the piston 32 will be quite rapid and as the latter reaches the upper end of its travel the crosshead 34 will strike the abutment 30 and shift the valve 23 to its vopposite position, this Abeing done fairly rapidly due to the small retardation by the dash-pot during that time. The piston will, however, continue to move suilicientlyfar tocause the rod 51 whose abutment 55 is engaged by the crossliead 34 Y at about the vsame time as the' abutment 30 is engaged by the latter to be' raised and under the action of the spring 50 reverse the position of the three-way valve, the supply of air then being cut off to theI port 48 and a suitable vent opened. The piston 32 will then move downward due to the force of gravity, this action occurring relatively rap- A idly until the port 44 is closed, there being thereafter avcertain delay, and thereafter A.the piston moving quite rapidly when vthe during either of said movements to control cause are-admission of pressure beneath the piston 32. Y

While I have in this application specifically described one form which'my invention may assume in practice, it will be'un derstood that this form of the same is sho-wn for purposes of illustration and that theinvention may b e modified and embodied in other forms without departing from its spirit or the scope ofthe appended claims.

. What I claim as new and desire to secure said power means so that saidl valve is opened or closed relatively fast.

l; JAccontrolling mechanism comprising a valve, power actuating vmeans therefo'r, and

a liquid dash pot adapted to control said power means so that said valve is opened or closed relatively fast.

4. A controlling mechanism comprising power actuated means, valvel mechanism adapted to be actuated thereby and to control power flow to said means and another supply of fluid, and means, including liquid control means adapted to control said 'power means, whereby said supply and power flow vis adapted to be sequentially influenced relatively fast.

5. A self-contained controlling mechanism comprising a movable power actuated member, trigger mechanism for controlling power flow thereto, and means movable with said trigger mechanism.

6. A self-contained controlling mechanism comprising a power actuated member movable in opposite directions,trigger mechanism for controlling power flow thereto, and means movable with said member and adapted to initially actuate said trigger mechanism in either direction of movement thereof.

7 In a controlling mechanism, a controlling member movable alonga predetermined path and in opposite positions thereof conlsaid member and adapted to initially actuate 1w trolling a mechanism controlled thereby,

means for causing said member tomove in opposite directions ,respectively by gravity and by fluid pressure, and fluid means associated with said. member for controlling the rate of movement thereof.

8. In a controlling mechanism, a controllingmember movable between opposite positions to control the mechanism controlled 130 thereby, means for supplying power ,to said member to efect opposite movements thereof, means associated with said member vfor controlling said lirst mentioned means, and means operative Vonly during mid-travel of said member and associatedWith .sa-id member for controlling the rate of movement thereof.

' 9. In a controlling mechanism, acylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, means forl controlling the supply and exhaust of fluid to said cylinder to governthe movements of said piston, a ,controlling membercontrolled .by movements of said piston, anda dash-.pot controlling the rate Yof movement of said piston and retardingthe Asame to a maximum degr-ee adjacent the `mid-travel thereof While permitting relatively uniform retardation in Athe initial portions of its travel said first mentioned means being governec by movements of said piston.

10. A controlling mechanism comprising parallel cylinders,I pistons movable in saidA cylinders and connected together, mea-ns for supplying pressure fluid to one of said cylinders Yto move its piston, means for retarding the lmovement of said other piston, and

means controlled by the movements of said pistons for controlling the supply ofoperating fluid to said iirst mentioned piston and Controlling a controlling means.

ll. In a controlling mechanism, a controllin@ mem-ber, a piston, Va cylinder in which said .piston is reciprocable, operating connections between saidpiston and said control member, and liquid dash pot means associ ated 4With said piston for retarding movements of said piston at a time vvhen'said operating connections are idle and inopera-A tive to retard movement of said piston when said operating connections are functioning.

l2. Controlling mechanism comprising a controlling member, means for moving the same through a given cycle, 'said member at spaced points in said cyelewgoverningthe operation of mechanism controlled 'thereby, and'ineans cooperating With said member and regulating its rate of movement `during the middle portion of its travel between said points, which means exerts no influence onits travel atother rportions of said Cycle.

13. Controlling mechanism comprising a controlling member, means for moving'pthe same through a givencyclmsaid meansat predetermined positions in said rcyclelgov- 4crning the operation of mechanism controlled thereby, and means rcooperating With said lmember to regulate its rate Y"of movei vment duringfthe middleportionofits travel includinga liquid dashpot.

ll. Controlling mechanism comprising a controlling member, means for moving the same through'a given cycle, said meansat predetermined positions in said cycle .gov-

erning the operation of mechanism controlled thereby, and means cooperating with said'member to 4regulate itsrate of movel.ment during the middle portion of its travel including a liquid dash pot offering substantially equa-l resistance to movement in opposite directions. Y d V l5. Controlling mechanism comprising a controlling member, means for moving the same through a lgiven cycle, said member at vspaced points in said cycle governing the operation of mechanism controlled thereby, ineans'for regulating the rate of movement of said member including a liquid Vdash :pot comprising a cylinder and piston and means forming a plurality of bypass passages arranged one adjacent either end of said cylinder and one near the middle of the cyliiider, and means for controllingV the rate of liow through said middle Abypass passage.- l

16. Controlling mechanism comprising a controllling` member, said member adjacentV the ends of its pathgoverning the operation of a mechanism controlled thereby, means for effecting opposite movements of saidv member, and means for controlling moven'ients of said member arranged parallel thereto' and comprising a .liquid dash pot.v A y i7; vControlling mechanism comprising a vertical cylinder, 'aWeighted piston reciprocable therein, a Controlling valve operative to supply pressure to and tol eXliaustpressure `from a pair of tanks in alternate relation, valve means for controlling the supply and exhaust of pressure vfluid tosaid exhaust of fluid'to a mechanism toV be controlled, and means controlled by the reciprocation of'said piston for mechanically actuating said valves. f Y

19.1In a controlling mechanism, a controlling member ieciprocable in opposite directions by Agravity and by iiuidE pressure, and means for controlling the opposite -movements thereof including a vsingle dash pot cylinder, a piston therein, means con-k stituting abypass Iadjacent the bottom of the cylinder, a bypass adjacent the top of the cylinder and a'bypass adjacent the middle of the cylinder, said bypasses being so 'disposed that any movement the ,dash pot piston will occasion Huid lloW through at least one bypass, and means for regulating the rate of flow through one of said bypasses.

20. In a Controlling mechanism, a controlling member reeiproeable in opposite directions by gravity and by fluid pressure, and

means for controlling the opposite move-4 ments thereof including a single dash pot cylinder', a piston therein, and means oonstituting a bypass adjacent the bottom of the lcylinder, a bypass adjacent the top of.

least one b )ass and means `for regulating 7 2D b the rate of flow through the middle bypass.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature.

DAVID H. HUNTER. 

